In his sumptuous new book, Food for Thought: The Stories Behind the Things We Eat, Ken Robbins serves up a thoroughly mouthwatering, fascinating feast of culinary history, myth, folklore, trivia, and nutritional information about nine foods widely available in supermarkets across the country: apples, oranges, potatoes, tomatoes, grapes, mushrooms, corn, bananas, and pomegranates.

Though some may find the selection eclectic, I like that Robbins includes foods most kids in America probably eat on a regular basis, maybe even take for granted — and then piques their curiosity with provocative infobits and absolutely stunning photographs. Then, while he’s got their attention, he also rhapsodizes about mushrooms and pomegranates (not exactly lunchbox fare), tempting them just enough to whet their appetites (pizza lovers may not even need a mushroom nudge).

As Robbins states in his brief introduction, “Every kind of food has its story.” This includes where these foods originated, how they are grown, processed, and consumed, how they’ve inspired writers and artists, what part they’ve played in America’s history, and even their political and economic implications in a world whose population will likely double by the year 2050.

I like knowing that an apple helped cause the fall of Troy, that Brazil produces the most oranges (but most of its OJ is not drunk at breakfast), and that bananas are so full of essential nutrients that it would be possible to “eat nothing else and still survive in good health.” Good stuff to know if you’re ever banished to a desert island and allowed to take only one kind of food! And now, I feel even more indebted to the Native Americans, who kept the Colonists from starving with their gifts of corn.

One might ask, why do we need to read this book, since the information is widely available on the internet? First, the gorgeous photographs are worth the price of admission alone. Life-size, and larger-than-life-size close-ups of the fruits and vegetables, set against various skyscapes, some dark and cloudy, some sunny, provide a unique opportunity for aesthetic appreciation. It’s no mistake that some of the world’s greatest paintings are still-life studies; through Robbins’ discerning lens, we are invited to reconsider and pore over the beautiful texture of orange peel, the juicy sheen of citrus chambers, or the curious, almost comic shapes of heirloom tomatoes. Food can nourish on so many levels.

Also, each fruit or vegetable is discussed via several pages of text, with additional photographs showing their sources — a vineyard, a potato field, an apple tree. Because only 2% of today’s Americans live on a farm, fewer of us know what these foods actually look like in their natural state. Robbins never forgets who his audience is, either — kudos to him for two photos of french fries (both with ketchup, of course), along with pizza, apple bobbing, a mushroom fairy ring, as well as sit-up-and-take-notice mention of popcorn, cornflakes, banana splits, and apple pie.

Food for Thought, suitable for ages 6 and up, is perfect for National Fruit and Vegetable Month. The bountiful mixed platter of information contains just enough choice facts to intrigue young palates, enabling them to look at these common foods in a new way.

And the most important food? Corn. It feeds billions of people worldwide and without it, many would starve to death. Did you already know that?

The photos have to be seen in person to be fully appreciated. Ken Robbins’ work is amazing.

I wondered at first about the inclusion of pomegranates (which I, personally, have never tried) — and thought perhaps Robbins wanted to “sneak in” something exotic along with the familiar. They certainly are beautiful in their own right, and since they originated in the Middle East (first grown in Iran), it’s a good multicultural angle, in keeping with the demand for more info about the region.

Pomegranates are fun to share. One word of warning, though: Napkins. Lots of ’em. Or maybe a bib. (They’re fruit-juicy delicious, but can stain your clothes.)

If you decide to post an entry about pomegranates, will you please send me a PM or email? I’ll be away from internet access for quite some time, and I wouldn’t want to miss out on the fun. I’ll look forward to seeing it when I get back…

Although I did not know for sure, corn was definitely among my guesses for the “most important food”. 🙂

So, when do Brazilians drink their OJ?

Sounds like a lovely book, although I can easily imagine many MANY foods being interesting enough to include, including a whole bunch of other common veggies and fruits, as well as, say, wheat and rice as common (American) grain representatives (aside from corn). I suppose, it being targeted at kids, he didn’t want to overwhelm anyone.

Oh, I’m so glad this posted – the comment window seized up after I clicked – I couldn’t even copy/paste to save my comment, and so I just closed the window and gave up, figuring my comment wasn’t that crucial. But still – nice to know it went through. And thanks for the OJ insight!

Jama, thanks for sharing this book. I love stories behind food and recipes. They exist in our own families. If we just take the time to ask our mothers questions around the dishes they make we’d have a family history.

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